Ericsson Imagine live in marvila 2025

Imagine Live 2025 highlighted how Ericsson is shaping a more connected, more resilient, and more sustainable future, while addressing the infrastructural and societal challenges that come with it.

The event opened with a warm welcome from Juan Olivera Urquijo, Country Manager Ericsson, who emphasized the fundamental importance of connectivity in today’s world and Ericsson’s role at the forefront of network expansion. He reinforced how digital infrastructure has become a backbone for economic development, innovation, and public safety.

Following the introduction, Antonio Coimbra, President of APRITEL, underlined the telecom sector’s economic importance in Portugal, noting that the industry is responsible for around 10,000 jobs. Next, Somaya El Marrakech, Head of Business Development for MCN at Ericsson, explored how Mission Critical Networks (MCN) are becoming a driving force in Europe. She highlighted several key structural challenges facing the sector:

• A shift in technology due to aging infrastructure, limited capacity, and costly maintenance.
• Scarcity of legacy competences, as standardization reshapes how operators build and maintain networks.
• Global limitations in high-reliability vendors, impacting sectors that depend on mission-critical connectivity.
• The rise of cyberthreats and the increasing need for climate-resilient, reliable networks.
• The crucial role of governments in enabling partnerships and innovation for public safety, defense, and transportation.

Transitioning from Narrowband to Broadband
A major theme of the event was the worldwide transition from traditional narrowband systems to modern broadband solutions. This shift is critical across several sectors, such as public safety, defense, and digital airspace.

This transformation is pushing service providers to take a leading role in modernizing Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems. According to the speakers, a single network model no longer fits the diverse needs of consumers, industries, and public services. Instead, the future belongs to flexible networks that can adapt to specific requirements such as service volatility and preemption capabilities.

Panel Discussion: “Growth Opportunities for CSPs – Unlocking the Full Potential of 5G.”
One of the highlights of Imagine Live 2025 was the panel discussion moderated by Claudia Queirós, Head of Networks Development at Ericsson West Europe, the panel included representatives from Portugal’s leading operators:

- Carlos Bouça, Network Engineering & Operations Director at MEO / Altice Portugal
- Judite Reis, representing NOS Portugal
- Pedro Santos, Head of Network Development, EU Cluster, Vodafone Portugal

The panel addressed the need for more agile, customer-adapted, and resilient networks. They stressed that operators must evolve from traditional approaches and collaborate more closely with technology partners to accelerate 5G adoption and meet rising societal expectations.

Madrid as an Example for Portugal’s Path Forward
The event also referenced Madrid as a successful example of how European cities can embrace network transformation. The intention was to inspire Portuguese stakeholders and encourage a similar openness to innovation, modernization, and cross-industry partnerships.

Thank you Ericsson for inviting us to an inspiring morning filled with knowledge and interesting speakers.